Spur.



No. 635,948. Patented Oct. 31, I899. L. W. TURPIN.

SPUB.

{Application filed June 17, 1895.)

(No Model.)

. Mm wuwmw L ou /s W Tar v in.

NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

LOUIS W. TURPIN, OF SCOTTS STATION, ALABAMA.

SPUR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,948, dated October 31, 1899, Application filed June 17, 1898. Serial No. 683,707. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs W. TURPIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scotts Station, in the county of Perry and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpurs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to riding-spurs, the object of the same being to provide means whereby the spur may be readily attached to the heel of a boot without the use of straps and may be as readily removed when not desired for use, thereby avoiding the unsightly appearance of the spur on the boot when the user is not on horseback.

Stated specifically, the invention consists of a frame in which the rowel is mounted, comprising outwardly-spring-pressed arms, having terminal engaging portions, and a downwardly-extending resilient bar between said arms, provided with a terminal engaging portion, and a securing-plate'attaohed to the heel of the boot, provided with lugs at its ends and at the central portion of its lower edge, having openings therein for the reception of the engaging portions on said arms and bar, respectively.

The invention also consists in other details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a boot, showing myimproved spur applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the spur detached from the securing-plate. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the securing-plate.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a flexible securing plate 1, which is attached to the rear side of the heel 2 by means of screws 3 3, extending through suitable openings in said plate. The heads of the screws 3 are preferably rectangular in cross-section and are unslotted, so that when the plate 1 is in place there will be no projecting portions of the screw, the said screw being seated by means of a wrench, key, or other suitable device. The plate 1 is curved longitudinally and is also made flexible, so that it may conform to the shape of the rear end of the heel 2, and the same is provided with projecting teeth or prongs 4 4, which are adapted to be forced into the heel for the purpose of assisting in preventing the displacement of said plate. At the opposite ends of the plate 1 outwardlyextending lugs 5 5 are formed, each of which is provided with a rectangular opening 6. Along the lower edge of the plate 1, intermediate of its ends, another lug 7 is formed, the same lying at right angles to the lugs 5 and being provided with an opening 8.

The spur proper, 9, (illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 of the -drawings,) is adapted to coact with the plate 1 and to be held in place on the heel 2 of the boot thereby. The same is made up of a frame comprising downwardly and forwardly extending outwardly-springpressed arms 10 10, having the free ends thereof bent outwardly, forming'rectangular terminal engaging portions 11 11, and a bar 12, in the outer end of which is pivotally mounted the rowel 13, said bar being bent downwardly at its inner end, so that it lies between the outwardly-spring-pressed arms 10, and is formed with a terminal engaging portion 14. The inner downwardly-bent end of the bar 12 is made of spring metal, so that it will yield to conform to any shape of heel to which the spur may be applied.

When the spur 9 is applied to the securingplate 1, the engaging portions 11 on the spring arms 10 fit within the openings 6 in the lugs 5, and the terminal engaging portion 14 on the bar 12 fits within the opening 8 in the central lug 7. As the plate 1 is flexible, so that it may conform to the curvature of the rear end of the heel, the relative position of the lug 7 may vary with respect to the end lugs 5 5. In order to compensate for this variation, the inner end of the bar 12 is constructed of spring metal, so that it will yield to permit the engaging portion 14 on the end thereof to enter the opening 8. When it is desired to remove the spur from the boot, it is merely necessary to compress the spring-arms 10, which disengages the ends thereof from the lugs 5 and raises the spur, lifting the engaging portion 14 out of the opening 8 in the lug '7. To replace the same, the reverse operation to that just described should be performed.

Vhile the present embodiment of my invention is deemed to be the preferable one, it is obvious that many minor changes may be made without departing from the nature or spirit of the invention. For example, the terminal engaging portions 11 on the arms 10 may be formed, as heretofore described, by bending said arms, or they may be formed by soldering, welding, or otherwise securing rectangular rivets or pins to said arms. The inner end of the central bar 12, with its engaging portion 14, may also be dispensed with entirely, the frame carrying the rowel being held in place by the engagement of the rectangular engaging portions 11 with the correspondingly-shaped openings Gin the lugs 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A spur having outwardly-spring-pressed arms and an intermediate arm, and fastening mechanism with which said arms cooperate.

2. A spur having outwardly-spring-pressed arms and an intermediate arm, and a securing-plate which said arms are adapted to engage.

3. A spur having outwardly-spring-pressed arms and an intermediate arm, all provided with terminal engaging portions, and a securing-plate provided with perforated lugs for the reception of said engaging portions.

4. A spur having outwardly-spring-pressed arms, and an intermediate downwardly-extending resilient arm, all provided with terminal engaging portions, in combination with a securing-plate provided with perforated lugs for the reception of said engaging portions.

5. In a spur, the combination with a securing-plate attached tothe heel of a boot, provided with outwardly-extending perforated lugs at the ends thereof, and with a similar lug at right angles thereto intermediate of the ends, of a spur proper, consisting of a frame carrying a rowel and comprising outwardly-spring-pressed arms provided with terminal engaging portions adapted to be received by the end lugs on said plate, and a bar which is bent downwardly at a point intermediate of its ends, lies between said spring-arms, and is provided with a terminal engaging portion adapted to be received by the intermediate lug on said plate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS \V. TURPIN. lVitnesses:

M. B. TRUE, J. O. TUBPIN. 

